1800s Sunburst

Throwin’ a Friday arvo sickie…

September 18, 2015 by Margaret

…cos I feel like blogging not working.

I’ve been continuing with this quilt over the last couple of months

working title Connecticut Quilt

but before I show you how it’s evolving I want you to see how the 1800s Sunburst is looking now that all the blocks are together.

working title 1800s Sunburst.

We all know what a nice feeling it is when the last bit of stitching is done on a quilt top. And this one was no exception…that was a lot of hand pieced circular blocks! The applique petals were very quick to do though and now it she is all ready for the quilting machine. I’m not in a great hurry to quilt her though…I’m still mulling quilting ideas over in my head.

So back to the Connecticut quilt and when I left you last I was pondering whether the baskets would stay or go…Thank you for all your kind and encouraging comments, I really appreciated the input.

I did decide to keep them, but they needed a little *attention* so I took them off to neaten them up…

Off they came.

…and in true Libran style I changed my mind and they didn’t go back on.

You see I’ve always liked these little Peony blocks.

Peony Blocks.

I’m just finishing the last half dozen or so blocks at the moment and then that will be a border complete.

This is how it’s all looking so far.

Connecticut Quilt take 2.

There’s still a wee way to go with it…more borders of course. But sooo nice to be moving forward with this after a long hiatus.

Spring is in the air here and it was lovely to spend an evening in the city with my darling daughter recently…drinks, ballet, dinner.

I had fun making this photo collage of our evening.

I heart Melbourne.

thanks for visiting,

til next,

happy stitching

Margaret

6 Comments

Filed Under: 1800s Reproduction Fabrics, 1800s Sunburst, Applique, Connecticut Quilt 1865-1890, Design, Reproduction Quilts

Loving the Winter

June 7, 2015 by Margaret

Winter means nights in, in front of the fire.

Nights in front of the fire means hand-sewing.

BTW, thank you SBS for playing a great movie last night on the telly ~ “Walk the Line” with Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon~ I stayed up till the end and got lots o’ stitching done.

One 1800s Sunburst block finished and well on the way with another.

This is a finished block from last week

Admiring my handywork over breakfast LOL

And here’s how the finished blocks are looking on the design wall this morning,

I just keep telling myself “I am getting closer”.

OMG Ombre is on the quilting machine and nearly done.

That Prussian Blue Ombre just pops throughout the quilt.

So with the imminent finish of another quilt, I’ve been pulling things out of drawers in the studio, (there is no shortage of UFOs there) and the winner just might be…

Connecticut Quilt

Looking back through my notes I think I started this in *Gulp* 2008 (possibly earlier) and of late I’ve had some new ideas for it.

Not least because I can’t even find my original Electric Quilt drawings for it. I suspect they were done way back on EQ5!, on the computer that died with out a backup. (Big Lesson learnt that day).

Because I love the fabrics in this quilt so much, it really would be a shame not to continue, and hey, one has recently been reproduced which is kinda handy LOL.

I’m pondering whether to take the baskets off and begin afresh from the star.

I’ve started drawing it up anew on EQ7 so will see where it takes me.

I’m going to carry on with that for the rest of the day.

Thanks for visiting,

til soon,

Margaret

12 Comments

Filed Under: 1800s Reproduction Fabrics, 1800s Sunburst, Connecticut Quilt 1865-1890, Design, Musings, Ombre, OMG Ombre, Prussian Blues

Progress x three

April 14, 2015 by Margaret

I’m so close to finishing Miss Hitchens’ Whimsy … I can hardly believe it.

I’ve calculated just four evenings of stitching will complete the remaining two small corner blocks.

(once I have prepared them of course)

Miss Hitchens’ Whimsy corner block…two down, two to go.

And then I just need a few hours to assemble because all the border strips are sewn…

Miss Hitchens’ Whimsy outer borders.

…and the centre is done.

Centre block…FULL of Broderie Perse.

It is such a *good* feeling.

So that is the first of the three quilts that are in the *Priority Pile*.

The second is the 1800s Sunburst Quilt…maybe progress is too specific a word for this. Chugging, nay Plodding along might be more apt but I am getting there and I periodically have another finished block to admire.

1800s Sunburst blocks, the top left is the most recent finish

I still get a thrill out of finishing one and deciding “which one next?” At the moment I seem to be drawn to these Vermiculate style patterns.

More blocks.

Once MHW is finished I’ll be able to get a bit more gung ho with these blocks.

And I’ve decided to use these Leaf Templates from Made Studio for the elipse corner applique…I’ve used these before and really like the accuracy and speed of these ready made templates.

Made Studio Leaf Templates.

The third is my OMG Ombre (that’s the working title lol)

With the arrival of more of the fabrics I wanted I can get cracking on this (yay)

Prussian Blue Ombre by Pam Weeks and Eccentric print by Lisa DeBee Schiller.

I’m itching to start sewing again on this… But first I’m going to prepare those last two MHW blocks…today.

I hope you are enjoying your UFO’s too.

thanks for visiting

til next

Margaret

8 Comments

Filed Under: 1800s Reproduction Fabrics, 1800s Sunburst, Applique, Broderie Perse, Design, Miss Hitchens' Whimsy, Ombre, OMG Ombre, Reproduction Quilts

OMG Ombre and some new patterns

February 25, 2015 by Margaret

I’ve been enjoying working with some Ombre fabrics which have been in my stash for a wee while,

and I confess I’m still adding new ones to my shelves.

Ombre fabric, also known as a Rainbow or Fondu print, was very fashionable with quiltmakers during the 1830-1850 period. The fabrics created shading and interest to applique quilts (think epergne vases in Baltimore Album quilts)

On my shelves these two ombres started inching their way forward ’til they fell off, giggling and holding hands and I noticed them again.

Classic (not to mention gorgeous) Ombres.

And of course then I got enthused.

Wild Goose Chase, working title OMG Ombre

So I have a few more blocks to make…I will be alternating the Wild Goose Chase blocks with another pieced block. Yay, a chance to use more ombres and I’m happy to have some more machine piecing to do after months of hand stitching.

The hand stitching I’m doing is piecing my 1800s Sunburst blocks.

1800s Sunburst blocks.

I am just loving the fabrics in this quilt, again I’m pulling out oldies but goodies along with newies.

Marcus Bros. Aged Muslin and (in no particular order) a bounty of 1800s fashionable fabrics.

And ombres feature here too. This pic is just from the last time it was up on the design wall and I coudn’t resist sewing four together so I could see how the applique would work as a secondary pattern.

Two recent-ish quilt finishes are

Margot

Margot, after my Mother-in-law Margot DeCamp and Margo Krager ~ whose fabrics I adore and use A LOT :-)

and Rising Sun Medallion

Rising Sun Medallion

I’ve also finally updated my Pattern page with some new additions, I’m very excited to have some more patterns for sale.

A cup of tea and some more sewing beckons,

happy stitching

til soon

Margaret

5 Comments

Filed Under: 1800s Reproduction Fabrics, 1800s Sunburst, Design, Margo Krager fabrics, OMG Ombre, Quilt Patterns, Reproduction Quilts

No way, it can’t possibly be…can it?

February 3, 2015 by Margaret

Well the computer can’t lie, and I am hanging my head in embarrassment here.

I haven’t blogged for long time.

I have been hanging out on Facebook a little bit and lately on Instagram too but it’s not quite the same is it.

https://www.facebook.com/quiltstation

http://instagram.com/margaretmew/

Shall I just get back on the horse and hope you’ll let me pick up where I left off?

Keep Calm and Carry On.

Thank you…Ahem…shuffle of feet…I’m blogging, and it feels good.

Last time you saw my Pomegranate quilt, I was bundling up a few blocks to sew on a trip to NZ.

May 2014 Travel Prep

Look at it now!

Pomegranate quilt.

I am really pleased with the way this quilt has turned out…quite bright (clear) for me; usually I’m muddy-er and scrappy-er.

And sticking to three fabrics and a background?

LOL I couldn’t, there are a few subtle additions in the borders.

A Hepburn Springs local

I headed off to the wonderful Hepburn Springs (Daylesford, Vic.) last September with some of my LQG;

its always a special weekend with these ladies many of whom I’ve sewn with for nigh on 20 years.

Taking a morning stroll for coffee offers some lovely sights and the chance to meet a local.

Then back to the house for stitching.

I had plenty with me to choose from because I’ve started a several new quilts over the last months.

(And pulled a few UFO’s out of storage with renewed vigour)

1800s Sunburst Quilt.

I cut out a few of these hand-pieced Sunburst blocks in readiness for retreat. I then cut some more and have since sewn all of those.

And since then have cut the rest of the blocks needed for the quilt and spend most evenings hand stitching these.

Lots of my favourite 1800s repro fabrics happening here. Blues Browns and Pinks.

Last count I have half the blocks sewn, but it doesn’t pay to count too often

Also during January, aka ‘My Month of Selfish Sewing’, I have started and finished a machine pieced quilt top named Lexington Road.

Lexington Road

It’s only draped over the quilting machine, I wonder if anyone will notice if ‘MMoSS’ extends for a few more days…I’d love to get it quilted!

And January sewing included getting all these cute little applique blocks together, and continuing with the quilt I’m calling Miss Hitchens’ Whimsy.

Lots of half circles, Miss Hitchens’ Whimsy.

I’m teaching it at The Applique Guild’s Applique Academy later this year.

see The Applique Guild of Australia‘s website for more details.

There’s been some other ‘finishes’ since we last spoke, but perhaps I’ll leave those til next time

as the neck is a tad sore from tapping at the computer, but it feels really nice to connect with you all again.

Thank you for taking an interest in what I get up to, I do enjoy sharing it.

til next

Margaret

21 Comments

Filed Under: 1800s Reproduction Fabrics, 1800s Sunburst, Applique, Design, Machine Quilting, Musings, Pomegranate Quilt, Reproduction Quilts

Throwin’ a Friday arvo sickie…

Loving the Winter

Progress x three

OMG Ombre and some new patterns

No way, it can’t possibly be…can it?

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